Smartphones keep getting more advanced, but no-one has quite figured out the battery issue yet. As in how to make a smartphone that lasts long enough on a charge that battery anxiety never sets in. That’s why power banks are such a popular accessory.
If you’re going to pick one up, OLALA has a relatively new offering in the S70i Power Bank. I’ve been testing one for the past few weeks, and it’s done the job quite nicely.
OLALA S70i power bank makes sure you won't forget the cables.
Brad MoonPower + Flexible Connectivity
The OLALA S70i is equipped with a 7800mAH Lithium-ion battery. It’s Apple MFi certified and designed with a long list of safety features (no-one wants a portable battery exploding in their purse or frying their expensive new smartphone). Rather than list everything out, I’ll let OLALA do so with this handy graphic.
This power bank carries a long list of safety features.
Image copyright OLALAThe S70i’s enclosure is made of an aluminum alloy, giving it a premium look. Four blue LEDs show the battery charge remaining.
One of the key features of this power bank is its built-in cables. On each side, a 3-inch cable is securely slotted into a groove. One terminates in an Apple Lightning connector, the other in a Micro USB connector. This lets you charge the majority of smartphones out there without having to remember to bring a cable --the downfall of many power banks. There is also a full-sized USB port on the end that can be used with your own cable, in case you want to charge two iPhones at once, or need USB-C.
And yes, the OLALA S70i can charge two mobile devices simultaneously, at full speed. You can charge something as large as an iPad (output is 5V/2.4A), but the battery isn’t big enough for a full recharge from zero for most models.
Hands-On
The S70i has a smaller footprint than a smartphone, but it’s thick and relatively heavy. It's fine for a backpack (or large purse), but not what I would call pocket-friendly.
You can charge two devices simultaneously at full speed.
Brad MoonThe integrated Lighting and Micro USB cables are flexible and slip back into place nicely so they stay out of the way (with the connectors protected) when not in use. The power bank was able to charge two smartphones simultaneously at full speed, and had the capacity to charge my iPhone 7 Plus twice. The LED flashlight (turned on and off by a long press of the power button) was a nice-to-have as an emergency light, but certainly isn’t going to replace an actual flashlight for regular use.
There's a flashlight in case the lights go out.
OLALA S70i Power Bank reviewOLALA S70i Key Specs:
- 7800mAh Lithium-ion battery
- Integrated Lightning and Micro USB cable outputs (5V/2.4A), USB port output 5V/2.4A
- LED battery charge indicators
- 5 hour Recharge time (via Micro USB, cable included)
- Integrated LED flashlight
- Aluminum alloy case
- Multiple safety features including over charge and temperature protection
- Apple MFi certified
- 4.4 x 2.6 x 0.87-inches, weighs 7.87 ounces
Recommendation
There are a lot of power banks out there to pick from, but the OLALA S70i hits a sweet spot. The $29.99 it currently retails for on Amazon makes it less expensive than many competitors. At the same time, you get handy extras like the integrated cables and flashlight, an attractive design, plenty of safety features and the assurance of Apple MFi certification.
My wife still makes frequent use of the OLALA C2-1 power bank I reviewed several years ago, and I expect the S70i will prove to be as durable --if not more so, with its switch to an aluminum enclosure.
The biggest downside to this power bank is its bulk. So long as you weren’t planning to carry it around in a pocket, the OLALA S70i offers a great antidote to battery anxiety.
Disclosure: OLALA provided a power bank for evaluation but had no input into this review.
